Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been Argentina’s first 2022 World Cup qualifier and fined $1,500 after his red card during Argentina’s Copa America win over Chile in the third-place play-off.
Messi called the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) “corrupt” and refused to pick up his bronze medal. Messi added :”There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil.
“I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn’t have to be part of this disrepect we suffered during the Copa America.
Iniatially CONMEBOL threatened to impose tougher sanction on messi then backed down. Messi later apologized to CONMEBOL for his comments.
